LIGHTS ON
  • Home
  • Short Films
  • Feature Films
  • The Directors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • HALO
  • Home
  • Short Films
  • Feature Films
  • The Directors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • HALO
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

RITES
​​​​by Damian Vondrasek

16min | Czech Republic | 2022

A twelve-year-old Michal was born with a cleft lip.
He feels inadequate because of his deformed face.
​His only friend Ondra convinces him to join a street gang to finally break free from a position of an outsider.
Two friends have one afternoon to show they have what it takes to pass the admission to the gang. Michal desperately wants to prove he is good enough, but the tempting adventure suddenly turns into an initiation ritual into adulthood. 
​
Original Title Rituály
Year of production 2022
Length 16'
Country Czech Republic
Shooting Format Digital 
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Dialogue Czech
​
Director Damian Vondrasek
Producer Martina Netikova
Co-Producer FAMU
Production Company Cinémotif Films
Writers Damian Vondrasek, Lukas Csicsely
Cinematographer Krystof Melka
Editor Jakub Podmanicky
Sound Simon Herrmann
Art Director Stella Sonkova
Cast Tomas Stary, Daniel Vízek

Website
Cinémotif Films
​

Festival selections
International Short Film Festival of Cyprus 2022 - World Premiere
Alice nella Città 2022, Italy​
FilmFestival Cottbus - Festival of East European Cinema 2022, Germany
Ningbo Short Film Festival 2022, China 
​
Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival 2023, Serbia
Pragueshorts Film Festival 2023, Czech Republic - Special Mention for Tomas Stary

Director's Statement
Growing up, I had experienced moments that attacked the border of my so far familiar world.
Milestones that forced me to expand my perception of how complicated life can be. By this film, I would like the audience to re-experience such a maturing moment, from a perspective of a boy who feels alone and who desperately wants to fit in. And because of that, he crosses the line.
My goal was to show this adventure through the eyes of the protagonist.
This was the key for the visual style of the film as well. We chose a 4:3 aspect ratio using solely 50 mm lens to limit the field of view and create a subjective experience. We used a shallow depth of field to enhance the feeling of isolation.
My intention is to seek a connection between emotional perspective and camera angle and most importantly between what is shown and what is hidden. 
Foto
Foto
Foto
Foto
Foto
Foto

Foto

team@lightsonfilm.org